Metallic lathing.



No. 704,972. Patented July 8, I902.

F. A. MITCHELL.

METALLIC LATHlNGf (Application filed Sept. 26, 1901.)

(No Model.)

UNi'rnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERRIS A. MITCHELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METALLIC LATl-HNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 704,072, dated July 8,1902.

Application filed September 25, 1901. Serial No. 761477- (No model.)

.Zo (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERRIS A. MIroHELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Metallic Lathing, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to metallic lathing, and has for its object toprovide a sheet-metal lath that will operate to firmly and effectuallyanchor or tie the plaster, that will automatically aid in directing orcrowding the plaster in the sockets or keepers, and over which theplasterers trowel or finishing-tool will smoothly glide or travel.

To these ends the invention consists in the features and in the novelconstruction and arrangement hereinafter described,and particularlypointed out in the claims following the description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,formingapart of this specification, whereinFigure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the improved lathing, andFig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 indicates the body of the improvedsheet-metal lath, which may be of any suitable or preferred length andwidth and which is preferably corrugated or ribbed at 2. Said ribsoperate to give added strength and stiffness or rigidity to the lath andalso serve to prevent the plaster from creeping or sliding laterally onthe metallic surface of the lath. As shown, said ribs are formedparallel with one another. Such ribs are well known in the art and arenot absolutely essential and may be therefore omitted or dispensed with.

In making the laths longitudinal slits or incisions 3 and 4 are cut orformed between each pair or two adjacent ribs, said slits being made inpairs, each pair of slits comprising two straight parallel cuts ofunequal length. The metal between-each pair of slits is then pressed orstamped up by means of dies or other suitable means and at the same timeis extended lengthwise or elongated, the die or shaping-tool being ofsuch configuration that the metal between the slits will be inclined orlie at an angle relatively to the body or plane of the lath, theinclination starting at a point above the slits l and extending in anupward direction toward a point 5 above the slits 3, the slits 4: beingthe shorter slits. From the points 5 to the edges of the metal thelatter lies in a plane parallel with the plane of the body of the lath.The metal between the ends of each pair of slits is bent at an angle tothe plane of the body of the lath, as at 6, and in planes which convergetoward a transverse line passing centrally through the struck-up portionof the metal. This results in the formation of keepers or sockets, eachhaving an approximate wedge shape and an enlarged opening7 on one sideand a contracted opening 8 on the other. That portion 9 of each keeperbounding the large opening 8 is parallel with the body of the lath,while the remainder is inclined to said plane, as at 10.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the keepers of each rowor series alternate with one another-that is to say, they are soarranged that the large opening 7 of one keeper in any particular row orseries is disposed in an opposite direction to the correspondingopenings of the two adjacent keepers, and the keepers of the severalrows are so arranged that the keeper of any one row will lie oppositethe spacebetween two keepers of an adjacent row. In other words, thekeepers of one row break joints with the keepers of the two adjacentrows, whereby a line drawn atan angle of forty-five degrees through anyone of the keepers will pass diagonally and centrally through a numberof keepers, as indicated by the dotted line 11 11, Fig. 1, all thekeepers included in such series being alike-that is to say, all of suchkeepers are inclined in the same direction, with their larger openingsalso facing the same way, and, conversely, in the next adjacent diagonalseries or row of keepers the keepers will be inclined in the oppositedirection. It therefore follows that when the lathe are secured in placeone-half of the diagonal series of keepers will have their largeopenings disposed uppermost and the alternate diagonal series will havetheir small or contracted openings disposed uppermost.

In applying the plaster to the lathing the plasterer spreads the plasterthereon by alternate upward and downward sweeps of the trowel, and inthe upward stroke of his hand he sweeps the plaster over a diagonal rowof keepers having their large openings disposed downwardly, and in thedownward stroke he sweeps the plaster over arow-of keepers having theirlarger ends disposed uppermost. It follows, therefore, that as theplaster is spread over the lathing it is constantly being swept into thepockets formed by the keepers from the largerend. The keepers thus actas hoppers, and as the plaster is swept, pressed, or crowded into orbeneath the keepers a portion is forced out through the contracted endsof the keepers and acts as an anchor to tie or bind the plaster to thelath. Owing to the fiat edge portions 9 of the keepers a series ofsmooth surfaces, all lying in the same plane, is provided, over whichthe trowel easily and smoothly glides without encountering any rough,uneven, angular, or sharp edges, and as the plaster is pressed againstthe laths by the trowel the inclined portion 10 of one keeper operatesto direct the plaster into the large or flaring opening f the neXtkeeper.

By means of theimproved lathing described the plaster is firmly andsecurely anchored or tied in place. Furthermore, by arranging thekeepers in the manner described they are successivelypresented to theaction of the trowel as the latter is swept by natural motions of thearm of the plasterer in alternately upward and downward diagonaldirections. Again, owing to the straight-edge portions 9 of the keepersno angular, rough, or sharp edges offer themselves to the free sweepingmovements of the trowel or finishing-tool.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A lath consisting ofa metallic plate having a plurality of keepers stamped up therefrom sothat the opposite edges thereof will lie above the plane of the body ofthe plate and substantially parallel therewith throughout their length,and each keeper having a flaring and a contracted opening respectivelyformed on its opposite sides, substantially as de scribed.

2. A lath consisting of. a metallic plate having a plurality of openkeepers stamped up therefrom so that the opposite edges thereof will lieabove the face of the plate and in different planes, the arrangementbeing such that the openings on the opposite sides of the keepers willdiffer in depth throughout substantially their entire length,substantially as described.

8. A lath consisting of a metallic plate having a plurality of keepersstamped up therefrom, each keeper having a flaring and a contractedopening respectively formed on its opposite sides, the highest portionof said keeper being fiat and straight and disposed parallel to theplane of the body of the lath, and thence inclined toward the saidcontracted opening, substantially as described.

4. A lath consisting of a metallic plate having a plurality of rows ofparallel slits arranged in pairs, the slits of each pair being ofunequal length and the metal between each pair of slits being stamped upto form an open keeper, the arrangement being such that each keeper-hasa flaring and a contracted opening respectively formed on its oppositesides said openings differing both as to length and width.

5. Alath consisting of a metallic plate havinga plurality of keepersstamped therefrom and open on opposite sides, each of said keepers beinginclined for a portion of its width and said inclined portionterminating in a flat edge wall that lies parallel with the plane of theplate.

6. Alath consisting of a metallic plate having a plurality of rows ofkeepers stamped therefrom and open on opposite sides, the keepers ofeach row being alternatelyinclined in opposite directions relatively tothe plane of the body of the lath.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FERRIS A. MITCHELL. Witnesses:

S. E. GARDNER, HARRY D. Bowman.

